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Member Review by JonDerry:

This is a special wine, and was easily a candidate for the wine of the trip on my recent visit to Paso, and it probably was. It features co-fermentation of Syrah (40%) and Grenache (40%), with the Syrah fermented 50% whole cluster and seeing 70% new oak. The Grenache and Mourvedre (20%) saw neutral oak. The lore of the James Berry Vineyard is pretty straight forward, as the 2007 Saxum James Berry Vineyard (GSM Blend) won Wine Spectator’s prestigious Wine of the Year honors in 2010. But even before then, the James Berry Vineyard has been known for producing some of the best wine in all of Paso.
From the winemaker: Aromatics of bramble berries, crushed rock, white flowers, red meat, and spice lead to a broad yet focused palate with well integrated tannins and flavors of gunpowder, green tea, black licorice, espresso crema, and boysenberry. I have put a few cases aside to enjoy over the next 10-15 years and would suggest you do the same.
If I may borrow from Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, this wine has “flavors that just won’t let go” on a very dry and persistent, mouth staining finish. Looking forward to another go around with this wine and hopefully many more.

My Wines

My Cellar

All great wine begins with a passionate farmer. The grapes of the area’s most progressive vineyards, James Berry, Denner, Ohana and Booker, currently grace the wines of Villa Creek Cellars. Per acre contracts insure that the fruit comes off the same blocks each vintage. The Cherry’s own 70 acre estate on the west side of Paso Robles boasts elevations of 1400-1800 feet, calcareous soils, south f... Read more

All great wine begins with a passionate farmer. The grapes of the area’s most progressive vineyards, James Berry, Denner, Ohana and Booker, currently grace the wines of Villa Creek Cellars. Per acre contracts insure that the fruit comes off the same blocks each vintage. The Cherry’s own 70 acre estate on the west side of Paso Robles boasts elevations of 1400-1800 feet, calcareous soils, south facing slopes and ample water. Grape growing conditions don’t get much better. The Cherry’s look forward to planting their first grape vines in 2010. Read less

This is a special wine, and was easily a candidate for the wine of the trip on my recent visit to Paso, and it probably was. It features co-fermentation of Syrah (40%) and Grenache (40%), with the Syrah fermented 50% whole cluster and seeing 70% new oak. The Grenache and Mourvedre (20%) saw neutral oak. The lore of the James Berry Vineyard is pretty straight forward, as the 2007 Saxum James Berry Vineyard (GSM Blend) won Wine Spectator’s prestigious Wine of the Year honors in 2010. But even before then, the James Berry Vineyard has been known for producing some of the best wine in all of Paso.
From the winemaker: Aromatics of bramble berries, crushed rock, white flowers, red meat, and spice lead to a broad yet focused palate with well integrated tannins and flavors of gunpowder, green tea, black licorice, espresso crema, and boysenberry. I have put a few cases aside to enjoy over the next 10-15 years and would suggest you do the same.
If I may borrow from Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, this wine has “flavors that just won’t let go” on a very dry and persistent, mouth staining finish. Looking forward to another go around with this wine and hopefully many more.